How We Choose to Be Happy: The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People--Their Secrets, Their Stories

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In the last chapter they do mention that all these choices will be played out with the rest of your character and beliefs.

Jun 23, Joan rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Well done, research-based, and full of a lot of truth. It all comes down to a few things, all put together. Begin with the intention I intend to be happy! This is a good book for anyone who considers themselves a very happy person most of the time as I see myself , but it may also help some of those who think the world's against them--to Well done, research-based, and full of a lot of truth.

This is a good book for anyone who considers themselves a very happy person most of the time as I see myself , but it may also help some of those who think the world's against them--to tell them that changing perspective and expectations for yourself can happen, but, again, it's up to you to choose your mood, your role in life, your reaction to what happens good or bad in your life. Stop blaming your inlaws, your children, your co-workers, etc--pick up this book and enjoy life!

Jan 17, Mandy Gordon rated it it was amazing. Perhaps my favorite book of all time. Such a manifesto to the power of choice. I have read it several times over the years and have found each read adds new perspective and reveals new details. I will certainly read again! Feb 17, Reid rated it liked it. There are some solid suggestions here for choices one can make to be more happy in day-to-day life, no matter what the circumstances of one's existence.

However, in the final analysis, this is little more than an old-fashioned exercise in values clarification, which is valuable in and of itself, but is no panacea. Perhaps some of us are born with a more refined tendency toward cheerfulness than others. Or maybe we really can make choices which steer us in that direction. Perhaps happiness is not There are some solid suggestions here for choices one can make to be more happy in day-to-day life, no matter what the circumstances of one's existence. Perhaps happiness is not really the point. Perhaps our goal should be something different, like understanding or acceptance or love.

That all of these are part of this book's formula for happiness may or may not be relevant.

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The risk always is that if we do not find what we are looking for in a book like this, we will simply abandon its strategies for the next simulacrum held out to us. Unless such a system offers a holistic path, it is hard to see how ultimate fulfillment can be achieved thereby. Humans have been seeking the answers to the why of our existence and the how do I live here now, as well, for as long as we have been sentient. May we all find the answers we seek.

The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People–Their Secrets, Their Stories

I know, what a dorky book to be reading. I hate reading these sort of books in public because I'm afraid people will think I'm horribly depressed and looking for answers. I read a review of this and it sounded interesting - an informal study which demonstrated the choices made by happy people in all walks of life.

It is interesting, and I enjoyed it. However, the language the "stories" of the everyday happy people are written in is obviously that of the authors rather than the speakers themselves I know, what a dorky book to be reading. However, the language the "stories" of the everyday happy people are written in is obviously that of the authors rather than the speakers themselves - it makes them all blend together a little.

Not a must read, and doesn't necessarily put forward anything new about living a happy life, but I think it puts the elements of happiness together in a different way. Mar 21, Judy Frabotta rated it liked it. I like the idea of this book -- these two guys went around asking "who is the happiest person you know? Some chapters resonated more for me than others, and when all is said and done, it seems to be a book about good mental hygiene, which isn't quite the same thing as happiness. I liked the chapter on accountability -- happy people don't blame others for their problems; and the chapter on identifica I like the idea of this book -- these two guys went around asking "who is the happiest person you know?

I liked the chapter on accountability -- happy people don't blame others for their problems; and the chapter on identification -- happy people know what makes them happy. Although these seem obvious, it certainly seems that people without those two skills, don't seem very happy. There's also no mention of the physiological aspects of happiness, despite the proven effects of exercise, yoga and the like on mood. Jul 24, Sarah rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Anyone who is struggling to figure out how to build the life they want.

Some people will just always scoff at self-help books, and that's fine. This one was good at laying out steps for clarifying my thinking and laying out a path to help people make themselves happier more consistently - in short, it's about realizing that you have control of your life, finding what makes you happy, and committing yourself to putting those things in a central role in your life.

May 20, Jennie Helena rated it it was amazing. I'm not a fan of self-help books because they seem to be so instructive. This book will be one of those books that I'll read more than once, it's nice to get yourself back on the right path every now and then. I highly recommend this introspective- uplifting book to everyone, those that are looking for their happiness as well as those who've found it. Jul 29, Anita rated it really liked it.

I've got my work cut out for me. Jul 18, Camiwar rated it really liked it.

How We Choose to Be Happy: The 9 Choices of Extremely Happy People--Their Secrets, Their Stories

Truly an amazing book, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it is not written necessarily from a Scriptural viewpoint. The content, however, is very Biblical and well worth reading, especially for someone like me who struggles with such things as other people's opinions, duty, and working in a field I don't always feel to be up to the challenge.

The book can be summarized by the following quote: Nov 22, Au rated it liked it Shelves: Good book, lots of motivational stuff and work pages. However, some of this seems a little played up. Not enough stories about average people, mostly about people who become super successful doing things out of the ordinary. Sep 11, Margaret Zhang rated it it was amazing. I think it should be required reading for life. Mar 26, Karisma Alize rated it it was amazing. And that's because this book doesn't TELL you how to be happy. It encourages you to do what makes YOU happy.

It's basically a compilation of the choices that happy people make. How did these two authors determine who's happy? By traveling the world and asking to interviewing people who were deemed to be the happiest person someone knew. It shares stories about REAL people and what issues and decisions they faced, in order to do what truly makes them happy.

It had writing exercises in the book helped me to discover things that made me happy. The 9 choices are easily applied, realistic and simple, yet not so simple. The simplest things are actually the hardest to do. That's probably because we condition ourselves to think "That's too obvious. I could do that. When I'm ready though. Are you ready to do what makes you happy?

9 Ways To Be Happy In A High-Stress World

Even if your loved ones don't support it? Even if it doesn't pay more than your job that you hate? It's about being happy and appreciating the little things and the free things. May 11, Robert Case rated it liked it Recommends it for: Happiness self-help books are very much in style right now. On the recommendation of a friend I just finished reading this edition.

I found three worthwhile takeaways: First, I agree with the author's explanation of happiness, defining the concept in humanistic terms rather than materialistic, sensational, or the result of a quick jolt of adrenaline. They describe it as a rich sense of well-being, sourced in self-awareness, engagement, and self-esteem.

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Second, was the chapter on recasting, t Happiness self-help books are very much in style right now. Second, was the chapter on recasting, the ability to deal productively and creatively with all that life offers - good and bad - to turn any experience into a source of hope for the future. Third, presenting happiness as a choice involving nine specific considerations, all of them interrelated.

In terms of weakness, like many self-help books, this one drags after the first pages, too many predictable anecdotes and dramas as told by all the ordinary happy people interviewed for the book. Feb 08, Alyse rated it it was amazing Shelves: However, this was a pleasant surprise. Though more sef-help than business it was very helpful in bridging the gap of how the self reacts to a situation in a personal situation and how the self reacts in a business situation. Each chapter was based on a different topic, which is often the downfall of other business books.

There was not padding. Highly recommend for personal and work relations. May 21, Lyn rated it liked it Shelves: Like most self-help books, this one starts out strong and loses its momentum. For me, the chapter about setting an intention was helpful since I had not thought about the topic as it was discussed in the book because I had somehow already had decided that I knew what that meant without really thinking about it.

But for this chapter I would give it two stars because I think the book is a little too simplified for the topic it covers. May 20, Anna rated it it was amazing. I've read a lot of self-help books, and there's a lot of recycled, repackaged information out there. This book had fresh insights backed by wonderful testimonies. Happiness in the Long Term. Tony Centralizes His Dream List.

Insecurity Instability and Centrality. When Life Gets in Our Way. How Happy Are You? Setting Intentions All Day Long. The Lifelong Intention to Be Happy. Janet and Arthurs Big Adventure. Happiness Is Hell for Victims. Convergent Versus Divergent Thinking. Creativity Limitations and Boredom.

The Commerce of Giving. Like Pebbles in a Clear Lake. How We Choose to be Happy: Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, they conduct workshops and seminars throughout the United States and internationally, in public, private, and corporate forums, including in such major venues as Hewlett Packard, Toyota America, U.

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